Learn About Logistics Jobs: Carrier Manager
Melton Logistics – 01/25/2024
The logistics industry plays a HUGE role in our economy. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 2021, an average of 53.6 million tons of freight was moved each day worth about $54 billion dollars. By 2045, total freight is projected to reach 27 billion tons hauled yearly, showing the sheer magnitude of this important, yet often overlooked, industry.
Given the massive size of this career field, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s a pretty steady demand for skilled logistics professionals and supply chain operations managers. However, it’s often unclear what exactly those careers entail. What responsibilities do logistics careers come with? What skills and experience do you need before entering a logistics role? Let’s see what a day in the life of a carrier manager looks like at Melton Logistics.
What Does a Carrier Manager Do?
The core responsibilities of Carrier Managers are to determine the market rare for freight and move shipments for customers with carriers that best meet their needs. They foster relationships with carriers to ensure optimal service and cost savings for their customers. Carrier managers are the eyes and ears of the 3PL world. They vet carriers and identify any issues thatg could arise before a truck is assigned. Additionally, carrier managers resolve any issues during the transit Their ultimate goal is to ensure smooth and reliable transportation for their clients’ shipments.
Daily Responsibilities of a Carrier Manager
● Source reputable carriers for freight service
● Build rapport with carriers
● Negotiating spot market rates with carriers
● Booking carriers on shipments
● Load tracking and providing status updates to Account Managers
Skills Needed to be an Effective Carrier Manager
● Commitment to providing excellent customer service
● In-depth knowledge of the transportation industry
● Tracking market trends and regulatory requirements
● Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills
● Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external customers
● Understanding of customer service principles and customer relationship management
● Self motivated and driven for success
What Characteristics Make a Good Carrier Manager?
● Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
● Ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances
● Able to prioritize tasks efficiently
● Ability to work successfully within a team and independently
● Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills
● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with a diverse network of carriers
The Melton Logistics Difference
Melton Logistics has existing relationships with an extensive list of carriers which allows us to match shipments with the optimal carrier to meet a customer’s safety, budgetary, and delivery requirements.
We vet all prospective new carriers through two third party monitoring services before approving them to haul for us. The first monitors carriers’ safety ratings, reports filed on fraudulent activity from other brokers, and length of Operating Authority maintained. The second is integrated with our TMS and updates our system automatically if a carrier falls out of compliance with any of our safety, insurance, or authority requirements. Also, if there is any fraudulent activity associated with their contact information or any changes in insurance or operating authority we are notified of that activity.
We have stringent qualifications in order for a carrier to qualify to haul for us. Basic insurance and authority requirement info below:
● $100,000 Cargo coverage
● $1,000,000 Auto coverage
● 6 months with active Authority
● Safety Rating must be Satisfactory or None
● Carrier’s insurance must be AM Best rated at B+ or higher.
In summary, we take extra precautions to ensure carriers are the highest caliber available, so your freight is protected from start to finish.
Working at Melton Logistics
Carrier Managers are vital to the success of logistics companies. We rely on our customers to provide freight – however, we also need our carrier partners to provide safe transit. We hold our carrier managers and our carriers to a high standard, ensuring the safest and most reliable carrier for your valued freight. Learn more about the logistics occupations we have available on our careers page.